Crisis: UNICEF, Plateau launch catch-up vaccine amid immunisation disruption

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Plateau State Government have launched a Big Catch-Up Immunisation for children who missed routine immunisation due to crises in Jos North and South.

The stakeholders who converged on Jos, the Plateau State capital, at the launch of the exercise lamented the rate of kids who missed their routine immunisation, saying that the development poses serious health concerns for the well-being of the children.

The Director of Disease Control and Immunization at the Plateau State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr Yakubu Dauda Isha, while speaking in Jos South on Wednesday, said that zero-dose children are common in four local councils of the state – Wase, Kanam, Shendam, and Qua-an Pan.

Dauda commended UNICEF and others for partnering with the Board to address the zero-dose challenge, saying that the state has been recording improvement, with parents submitting their wards for immunisation.

He attributed the disruption in routine immunisation to crises and communal clashes recorded in the state.

“The rate of zero-dose was on the high side. Plateau state was marked as a ‘Zero Dose State’ – accounting for the high rate of children who have never received immunisation in their lifetime,” he said.

“Those four LGAs have witnessed a series of attacks. You don’t expect people who are witnessing attacks to have access to healthcare services – especially immunisation. Most of them were displaced. Secondly, there was a shortage of manpower, but I’m very certain His Excellency is prioritising that.”

UNICEF’s Health Officer, Patrick Akor, urged the residents to embrace the catch-up exercise to salvage the lives of the children who had missed their routine immunisation. He said that UNICEF is more concerned about the well-being of the children while commending the state agency for its partnership and commitment.

Also, the Wife of the Executive Chairman of Jos South Local Government Area, Mrs Mercy Silas Patrick, said, “I want to reassure you all that the Jos South Local Government is committed to supporting all efforts that promote the health and well-being of our children. Together, we can make a significant difference in the fight against preventable diseases.”